Synopses & Reviews
Anyone who has worked with a classroom of young children has had to balance the need to manage problem behaviors with the need to support children?s long-term development. In this vital resource, W. George Scarlett and his associates offer practical guidance for maintaining this balance, and they present a wealth of strategies for tackling behavior problems, building young children?s self-control, and developing classrooms into productive, caring communities. The methods described are based on a developmental approach that sensitizes teachers to the unique needs of the individual child, groups of children, and the classroom as a whole.
[ital]Trouble in the Classroom features contributions from master teachers, academics, and practitioners who write in concise language that is free of educational jargon. They present examples of teacher/child, child/child, and teacher/teacher interactions that help make complicated issues easy to comprehend. Most of all, they show the strenuous but incredibly rewarding process of letting development become the cure for behavior problems.
Review
"Full of insights, ideas, and examples on how to work with young children in the classroom.... Multiple examples from various sources highlight points being made and make the book real and human.... Scarlett does a masterful job of trying to stimulate the curiosity and interest that brings professionals to this work in the first place, through his own patience, curiosity, and wonder." (Social Work with Groups)
"This invaluable volume deserves a place on the shelf of all early childhood educators, including Head Start teachers and directors. Through sound developmental theory and wise example, George Scarlett and his colleagues reveal the core processes underlying many behavioral problems, and offer us practical ways to restore harmony to both child and classroom." (Edward Zigler, Yale University)
"In the often bewildering territory of children's behavior problems, George Scarlett proves a sure guide--at once grounded in developmental theory and oriented toward the practitioner." (Howard Gardner, Harvard University)
"This is an invaluable book for early childhood educators. It illustrates with clear principles and abundant examples techniques for extending developmentally appropriate practice to young children who are displaying dysfunctional behavior, and it provides solid information with charm and compassion. It is the only book I know of its kind. (David Elkind, Tufts University)
"This book offers encouraging answers to the puzzling question of WHY we find teaching young children so rewarding." (Grace Mitchell, pioneer in early childhood education)
Synopsis
The first book to present a positive and sound development approach to understanding behavior problems in the pre-school and early elementary years. This developmental approach to discipline in the classroom considers both the classroom context and the child's development needs.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 193-194) and index.
About the Author
W. GEORGE SCARLETT is assistant professor in the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development, Tufts University and lecturer in psychology at Assumption College, Worcester, Massachusetts. In addition to his duties as professor, Scarlett serves as a consultant, trainer, and program evaluator for Head Start and other early education programs.
Table of Contents
Foreward by Sylvia Feinburg.
Part One: Introduction.
1. A Developmental Approach to Behavior Problems.
2. Tactics for Managing Behavior Problems.
Part Two: Developmental Tasks for the Child.
3. Feeling Connected in the Classroom.
4. Developing a Healthy Sense of Self.
5. Becoming a Constructive Player.
6. Making Good Friends( W. George Scarlett and Jennifer Wickham).
Part Three: Developing Classrooms.
7. Building a Just and Caring Community( Lawrence Kohlberg and Thomas Lickona).
8. Curriculum and Behavior Problems: Giving Children a Voice(Susan Steinsieck and Kim E. Myers).
9. Programming, the Physical Environment, and Behavior Problems (W. George Scarlett with Kim Myers).
Part Four: Behavior Problems and Diversity.
10. Culture and Behavior Problems: The Language of Control( Cynthia Ballenger).
11. When Kindergartners Don't Act in Kindergarten Ways( Monique Jette).
12. Developmental Education as Special Education(Kirsten J. Willand).
13. Conclusion: The Long-Term View.